CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns will continue to discuss Kevin Stefanski’s job status throughout the weekend, and make a decision at some point after Sunday’s season finale in Cincinnati, when the Browns are either 4-13 or 5-12.

Parting ways with a head coach after a finale against an AFC North rival is nothing new for the Browns: they fired Rob Chudzinski and Freddie Kitchens almost immediately after season-ending losses to the Steelers in 2013 and 2019, respectively.

It has become increasingly obvious that the lean is toward Stefanski being gone, with an air of finality in his press conference on Friday when discussing players such as tight end David Njoku.

Rarely providing insight into his dealing with players, Stefanski said, “He and I have a very unique relationship. He thinks I didn’t like him when I first got here, which is not true. I just told him the truth and he didn’t like that. But to watch him mature and become a leader, the energy he brings in the building, the unbelievable plays that he’s made over the years … So, I think the world of the person.”

The two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year, Stefanski also lavished praise on rookies Carson Schwesinger and Harold Fannin Jr., almost with a parting remarks vibe.

He also began his week by saying “I’m privileged to have this job,” when asked if he wanted to continue on.

Everything about the week had “goodbye” written all over it, including Myles Garrett declining to give Stefanski a ringing endorsement, and instead saying that there have been “more downs than ups” in his six years with him. Garrett also indicated Stefanski didn’t win enough games this year despite the dominant defense. Garrett also touted defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who could become a candidate to replace Stefanski if he’s gone.

What’s more, no one in the organization stated or leaked that Stefanski is safe, which is a clear indication that a separation could be imminent.

But the divorce isn’t final just yet.

The Browns and Stefanski, along with his agent, will continue to hash things out over the weekend to see if they can reach a meeting of the minds. It’s untrue that Stefanski wants out, multiple sources have told cleveland.com. It’s probably why he emphatically stated how privileged he is to have the job.

Signed to a contract extension in June 2024 along with GM Andrew Berry, Stefanski will undoubtedly focus primarily on beating the Bengals and then the two sides will likely sit down after the game and decide if there’s an 11th-hour resolution to the situation. If they need more time, it could possibly stretch into Monday back at the Browns facility in Berea.

But the fact that it will likely come down to a postgame discussion means it’s probably hanging by a thread and doesn’t have a great chance of being salvaged.

Berry is safe

Berry, who’s heavily involved in the decision on Stefanski’s future, is safe, sources have told cleveland.com.

Berry delivered on Jimmy Haslam’s mandate in the offseason to knock this 2025 draft out of the park, and produced one of the best rookie classes in the history of the organization. Schwesinger, Fannin and running back Quinshon Judkins are all Pro Bowl alternates and No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham is on his way to becoming a Pro Bowl defensive tackle. The Browns also have high hopes for running back Dylan Sampson, and are pleased with the continued progress of Shedeur Sanders, who still has a chance to be their starter in 2026.

What’s more, Berry picked up another first-round pick in 2026 in the trade down from No. 2 to No. 5 with the Jaguars. And that pick, currently No. 27, could be used to land another dominant player, or possibly to trade up to draft a quarterback.

Either way, with Schwesinger, the No. 33 overall pick, about to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Years honors and Fannin on his way to becoming a perennial Pro Bowler, Berry isn’t going anywhere.

If anything, the Browns could add to his responsibilities and possibly title with chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta gone, but he’s expected to retain final say over personnel decisions.

How does Sanders factor into the Stefanski decision?

Sanders has nothing to do with the Browns’ decision on Stefanski. The Browns have been pleased with Sanders’ development under Stefanski, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, and are looking forward to another good performance in Cincinnati.

Stefanski spent countless hours with Sanders in his office pouring over film and getting him ready to play, and the two have a good working relationship.

The Browns haven’t yet determined if Sanders is their starter in 2026, and his future isn’t a factor in the decision on Stefanski. The Browns will base their quarterback plans on a thorough postseason analysis of Sanders, on where they land in the draft order, on which quarterbacks are available, and who their head coach is.

Is Schwartz a candidate?

The Browns aren’t putting the cart before the horse and won’t finalize a list of candidates until they know for sure that Stefanski isn’t coming back. But they certainly think highly of Schwartz, who reiterated recently that he’d like another chance to be a head coach, after going 29-51 in his five seasons in Detroit from 2009-13.

He’d certainly have Garrett’s support.

Garrett, while declining to say the Browns should keep Stefanski, was effusive in his praise of Schwartz, who presides over one of the most dominant defenses in Browns’ history.

Asked if he feels it’s important to move forward with Schwartz, Garrett said, “I like Jim. I like the coaches that we have. So I don’t know what’s going to be in the future. Would I like to play under Jim? Would I like to keep the team and for us to improve? Absolutely. But these are things that are handled by people who sign my checks so they make bigger decisions than I can account for. So I’m going to allow them to do what they do, give my opinions as they ask for it. And then I’ve got to rock with whoever they have here, but love Jim and I love playing for him.”

As for what kind of head coach Schwartz would make, Garrett said, “I know it’d be regimented and probably very efficient. That’s how he runs it on defense, so I think those two things will hold true, but how it would come out to results on the field, that’s always determined by us. And sometimes there are things we can’t control, like injuries and the like.”

When and if the Browns get to that point, they’ll likely conduct a comprehensive search, but Schwartz would undoubtedly be on the radar. It remains to be seen if Rees, 33, often described as an offensive savant, would also get a chance, but the Browns think very highly of both coordinators.

Will Stefanski be in demand this cycle?

Stefanski will definitely get interviews for head coaching jobs this cycle, a source tells cleveland.com, and he’s already been linked to the Giants’ vacancy.

If he doesn’t land a head job right away, he might also resurface as a coordinator in 2026. But as a two-time Coach of Year with a challenging quarterback landscape here, he’ll get looks from teams for their head coach vacancies.

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